A pioneering usage of additive manufacturing to create ‘on-demand’ pieces for repair and replacement in damaged ships has been revealed by the Port of Rotterdam’s Additive Manufacturing Field lab (RAMLAB) in collaboration with Autodesk.

The important role connected technologies play in safeguarding manufacturing resilience has been highlighted with the global predictive maintenance market set to grow exponentially over the next five years.

When thinking of start-ups, the image of tanned Ivy League dropouts developing complicated pieces of software from their unconventional Californian workspaces often springs to mind. But the reality of launching a business – big or small – from scratch can be very different, as is often the case with those starting up manufacturing in the UK. Rita Lobo examines the challenges of taking the first steps in manufacturing.

Autodesk and Taxal recently conducted an in-depth research study into how the Internet of Things is set to transform manufacturing over the coming years. Jonny Williamson catches up with Taxal’s Allan Behrens to go through the findings and the wider implications.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) requires UK companies to connect their manufacturing operations with technology, in order to deliver more agile, responsive and customer-focused outcomes. But what are the specific technologies that British industrialists need to embrace?